title: Glaucoma alters the expression of NGF and NGF receptors in visual cortex and geniculate nucleus of rats: effect of eye NGF application.
abstract: We investigated the effect of glaucoma (GL) on nerve growth factor (NGF) presence in two brain visual areas. Rats with elevated intraocular pressure (EIOP), induced by hypertonic saline injection in the episcleral vein, were treated with eye topical application of saline or NGF. Rats were subsequently sacrificed, and brain tissues were used for immunohistochemical, biochemical, and molecular analyses. We found that GL alters the basal level of NGF and NGF receptors in brain visual centers and that NGF eye application normalized these deficits. These findings demonstrate that the reduced presence of NGF can arise due to degenerative events in retinal and brain visual areas.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neurobiology and Molecular Medicine, Section of Neurobiology, National Research Council (CNR), Via del Fosso di Fiorano, 64/65, I-00143 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sposato
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Parisi
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Manni
authors.forename: Maria Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Antonucci
authors.forename: Veronica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Di Fausto
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sornelli
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Aloe
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western / Q000379:methods; D005829:Geniculate Bodies / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020917:Receptor, trkA / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D014793:Visual Cortex / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor; D020917:Receptor, trkA